For boys: Welcome to Sherborne Boys and to our thriving international community. Whether you are an international candidate, or a British boy whose family lives overseas, you will find a very warm welcome and a home from home here at Sherborne.
For parents: Giving your son the opportunity to study overseas is a major decision, but one which will provide him with a superb foundation on which to build future success.
Sherborne exists to support our boys in making a positive difference, whether locally, nationally, or internationally. We help them to develop the necessary skills, resilience, and flexibility they will need to find their path in an increasingly competitive and globalised world. We encourage them to be themselves, to have a clear set of values that enable them not just to enjoy their own success, but to also contribute to the happiness and wellbeing of others.
For all: Although we are a single-sex school for boys, we enjoy many wonderful co-educational moments with our sister school, Sherborne Girls. This is an important and unique part of our two schools; the boys and girls join together for many sports, clubs and academic societies including CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, tennis, and sailing, as well as every Saturday night for house and/or year group socials – it really is the best of both worlds.
Many Sherborne families have boys with us and their sisters at Sherborne Girls. Our proximity to each other ensures that they have plenty of opportunity to meet up as siblings, whilst allowing each to have their own, unique education.
My team and I are here to support you and your son every step of the way, and we all look forward to welcoming you to Sherborne Boys very soon.
Sherborne Boys
Abbey Road
Sherborne
Dorset DT9 3LF, United Kingdom
+44 (0)1935 810403
admissions@sherborne.org
sherborne.org
Welcome from the Headmaster
Alongside its rich heritage, Sherborne prides itself on being a vibrant, forwardlooking school which prepares young people to develop a global outlook and embrace the opportunities presented in today's modern world. In addition to enjoying a first-rate academic education and myriad co-curricular opportunities, all our pupils benefit from being part of a warm, inclusive, and supportive community.
We place particular value upon our international students, not least for the wide-ranging contributions they make to all areas of school life and the rich seam of diversity that they represent. At the same time, we remain keenly aware of the need to support their individual needs, helping them to feel comfortable from their first day with us and helping them navigate the practical challenges associated with being educated abroad.
I hope you will wish to take your interest in Sherborne further. We would be delighted to tell you more about our school and the very special community in which all our pupils, whatever their backgrounds, are uniquely valued members.
Anne Megdiche Director of Admissions
“My son has been given a unique combination of direction and freedom to grow into himself as a curious, kind, confident and attentive teenager.”
Amelia - parent
Dr Dominic Luckett Headmaster and CEO
Academic Studies
At Sherborne, our single-sex status puts the boys at an academic advantage from the outset. Evidence highlights that boys achieve better results in such an environment, but this needs to be balanced, and our relationship with Sherborne Girls ensures that it is. Boys are not only taught how to obtain excellent exam results, but also how to handle the process with confidence. To enable each boy to be treated individually, our timetable is designed to be flexible. With a wide range of GCSE, iGCSE, A Level and BTEC options, together with a programme of academic enrichment, our boys are offered a well-rounded education fit for an ever-evolving world.
Academic outcomes are excellent, as one would expect from a top UK boarding school, but the value-added routinely places Sherborne in the top 10% of schools in the country. We are a selective school, but not highly so, and therefore the results that boys can and do achieve are outstanding, and proof were it needed that our teaching and our approach to academic studies is first rate.
Following excellent pathway provision from our Sixth Form support team, at the end of their studies the majority of our boys leave to take up places at top universities in the UK,
including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Bristol, Imperial College and the London School of Economics. Whilst three quarters of our boys head off to Russell Group universities, global universities (and especially those in USA, Canada and Europe) are becoming attractive options. Vocational courses at The Courtauld, Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, and Degree Apprenticeships are also popular choices, but whatever path they choose, it is the result of expert guidance from Higher Education specialists, a broad curriculum and outstanding opportunities both in and out of the classroom.
Our academic enrichment programme is wide ranging, and is designed to help boys grow into independent learners – curious thinkers who want to know more, and have the skills to explore. The programme welcomes Olympians, politicians, mountaineers, entrepreneurs, educationalists and authors as visiting speakers, and to further enhance boys’ habits of learning, we offer various subjects as enrichment options at AS Level. Allied to the Extended Project Qualification that boys can complete in the Sixth Form, we believe our overall culture at Sherborne is more akin to that of a university environment than of a school – making it the ideal preparation for a boy’s next steps.
Sport
There are a huge number of sporting options for boys at Sherborne, whether they are part of our high-performance pathways or just wish to take part in the plethora of Sports that the School has to offer. While we are well equipped to bring out the very best in elite sportsmen, we are just as committed to the participation in sport of every single boy at School.
For us, Sport is a success if a boy finds an activity that he enjoys and will stick with once he leaves School. We want our boys to form habits of healthy living; shaping a commitment to regular exercise because
we recognise its importance to both physical and mental wellbeing, and our state-of-theart sports centre with swimming pool, climbing centre, sports halls, squash courts, multi-purpose studios, golf analysis suite, physio centre, fitness suite and dedicated performance gym is integral to this.
We foster strong partnerships with external providers, allowing our high-performance students the opportunity to train and compete at a level beyond the school environment. We have built strong relationships with numerous partners including
Bath and Exeter Rugby, Dorset and Somerset Cricket, Dorset Football, and Dorset Athletics.
The High-Performance Programme ensures that students receive personalised strength and conditioning plans, as well as seminars and lectures about nutrition, sleep, psychology, culture and values, leadership, teamwork, performance lifestyle, time management, and video analysis. This comprehensive approach provides our athletes with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive both on and off the field.
“Sherborne allows me the freedom to grow and pursue the things I most care about alongside my academic studies and other commitments.”
William
Music
Music runs right through the heart of Sherborne and is considered by many to be the top nonspecialist school for music in the country. Fantastically equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the Music School boasts spacious practice rooms with pianos, performance studios that have tie-lines to the Recording Studio, and two music classrooms that contain thirty composing workstations between them.
From the 109-strong Choir that sings in the Abbey, the Chamber Choir and Close Harmony group — singing is “cool” at Sherborne — to the smallest instrumental duo, there is quite literally something for everyone. The Wind Band is enormous but there are smaller groups that cater for all standards of musician. The auditioned Swing Band is one of the finest big bands in the South of England and the two orchestras are joint
with Sherborne Girls and The Gryphon (a local secondary school). Chamber Music proliferates with several ensembles entering national competitions each year with great success. Rock and Pop groups are pupil-led and focus upon the annual CourtsFest (a large screen open-air performance each summer), whilst there is also a further performance opportunity each term and at least two “Unplugged” events per year.
For advanced instrumentalists there are performance opportunities every Friday lunchtime in public concerts held in a nearby church, and informal concerts and masterclasses, competitions, and internal workshops are open to all. As the School that Chris Martin of Coldplay attended, Sherborne provides musical opportunities at every level and genre.
Drama
Unsurprisingly in a School that has produced so many fine actors, boys have the chance to participate in annual House plays, as well as School plays and joint productions with Sherborne Girls. With the purpose-built Powell Theatre, boys gain valuable experience of performing on the big stage. And if they prefer not to be in the limelight, there’s ample opportunity for them to develop skills behind the scenes too. LAMDA lessons are hugely popular at Sherborne, and boys enjoy great success, with over 75% gaining a Distinction in their exams at Grade 8.
At Sherborne, you’ll discover creativity around every corner, and we understand that flourishing for our boys involves more than academic success. By providing the space for boys to pursue the creative arts, and the high value we attach to them, we demonstrate how vital they are to Sherborne’s culture and to a boy’s future.
Art and Design
Sherborne has a culture in which all creative endeavour is prized. With an art gallery on site exhibiting work by artists of international renown, and with teachers who are professional artists themselves, there is much to inspire the boys to pursue their own enthusiasms, and many demonstrate real flair for drawing, print making, photography, pottery or digital design.
In both Art and Design, boys work on real-world projects, focussing on relevant, effective and structured problem solving. We believe that boys who learn how to be imaginative and creative are better prepared for the future; they can think on their feet and have confidence in their ability to formulate ideas and influence people. That is the gift of creative thinking, and its one that we give to every boy in our community.
“No-one is pigeon-holed at Sherborne. We’re given so many opportunities to develop our passions both in and beyond the classroom. Everyone’s talents are appreciated, and whether artistic, academic, musical, great at sport or brilliant at debating, you’ll find your niche in this community.”
Peter
Sherborne Boys has been given the accolade of ‘Great’ for Co-curricular by The Week Magazine in their Best of the Best awards.
Co-Curricular Activities
There is never a dull moment at Sherborne! Boys are encouraged to take part in a wide range of co-curricular activities, from debating to archive club, from campanology to radio broadcasting, as well as opportunities to support others through charity work and volunteering. A limited example of options include:
Allotment Club
Barbell Club
Basics of Jewellery Making
Beginner’s Arabic
Bellringing
Board Games
Chess
Classics Society
Coding Club
Cooking Club
Creative Writing
DJ Practice Club
Environmental Action Group
Geography Society
Grade 5 Music Theory Medicine in the News
Model United Nations Club
Poker Club
Psychology Club Radio Sherborne
Snooker Club
The Thinking Society
Theory and Practice of Meditation
Turing Virtual Reality Club
Water Polo
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
Outdoor Education
Sherborne CCF is a joint endeavour with Sherborne Girls. We have three sections in the CCF: Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army. Each section does something different whether sailing, field craft and tactics, military knowledge, or handling a weapon safely. CCF provides leadership opportunities that are not on offer in other areas of school life, and we enter national competitions such as the Rifles Cadet Cup, the Pringle Trophy and the CCF Sailing Regatta. They parade for Remembrance Sunday and the Biennial Inspection, and intrepid cadets can join camps and courses including adventure training in Norway and Transylvania or parachuting!
In addition to CCF, our Outdoor Education programme gives boys the opportunity to extend their experiences beyond their comfort zone. We aim to provide opportunities to learn skills such as navigation, campcraft and rope work through activities such as sport or challenges. The main opportunities available include Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh and Climbing, which, like CCF, are jointly run with Sherborne Girls.
Climbing is a sport option all year round and held in our state-of-the-art climbing centre. Whether using the climbing wall, or opting for bouldering, our boys compete both locally and nationally in events such as the annual Independent Schools’ Climbing Competition.
“At Sherborne I was able to have experiences and opportunities I otherwise would not have been able to encounter. I had an amazing time.”
Mack
“From sports to CCF, the list of possibilities goes on and on, for all to enjoy whatever they find interesting. The abundance of opportunity sets this school apart from any other, not to mention the value of the opportunities for self-improvement." Veljko
Countries of Residence – United Kingdom, plus
Boarding Life
Sherborne is a full boarding School, and our boys live within a close, supportive community. Everyone knows that they play a role in helping the whole community to thrive, and acquire habits of kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness that set them up for life.
Sherborne believes that every boy has the right to feel safe, happy, and valued as an individual. Pastoral care has the highest priority in the incredibly supportive House system. Resident House staff and a team of tutors provide guidance, support, and encouragement in all areas of School life.
Pupils form strong bonds across the year groups, underpinned by mentoring between the junior and senior boys. With the boarding house at the heart of their experience, it quickly becomes a place to call home – somewhere boys are encouraged to be themselves, to unwind and grow in a safe and trusting environment, and to relish the fellowship of their friends. By living alongside our boys and watching them grow together, we can provide unrivalled pastoral care and work closely with parents to give every boy the very best possible chance to thrive.
Boarding houses are busy places! Unlike many other boarding schools, we do not offer weekly or flexi-boarding, meaning that each House is as full at weekends as it is during the week. A typical weekend will start with Saturday morning lessons, usually followed by a whole School lecture.
Saturday afternoons are given over to the School’s extensive sports programme, in which every boy has a chance to participate, before they gather in houses for Assembly in the evening. Supper is followed by a programme of social activities, together with Sherborne Girls. On Sunday mornings, breakfast/brunch is followed by quiet time in Houses, during which boys catch up with
work, prepare for the week ahead or simply relax.
Various trips take place on Sundays, including outdoor activities like paintballing, go-karting, zorbing, or visits to watch professional sports matches or perhaps the cinema. Inter-house competitions are regularly scheduled for Sunday afternoons as well as during the week, and in activities as diverse as debating, football, and water polo. Most weeks, the whole School comes together on Sunday evening for a service in the Abbey.
The food at Sherborne is of exceptional quality and mealtimes are eagerly looked forward to. Meals are taken in the Dining Room, with boys enjoying homemade morning and afternoon snacks in their House. With food locally sourced wherever possible and a strong emphasis on freshness, there is a choice of several delicious hot options every day, as well as homemade soup and bread, a pasta and baked potato bar, a huge salad bar, and a range of hot and cold desserts. Fresh fruit is available at every meal and in House. Vegetarians, vegans, halal, and specific dietary requirements are all catered for, and we celebrate special cultural events from around the world.
As a result of the encompassing nature of boarding life, above all, Shirburnians know that they are cared for, that the whole community is looking out for them, celebrating the highs and supporting them during the challenges of teenage years.
“I haven't always been a naturally outgoing person, but I feel Sherborne has helped a lot along the way; it is where I found my people.”
Richard
A Safe Location
Sherborne is a thriving yet peaceful town with a tangible community spirit, making it an enviable location for a School like ours. It is a safe environment in which our boys can grow up, knowing that the dangers and aggressive pressures of a busier, urban setting are unlikely to arise. We hope that by providing opportunities for the boys to mix and engage with the town, the local community and other schools, they will develop a respect for others, a sense of belonging not only to their School but to an ever-changing community beyond, and that they will learn habits of hospitality and service that they continue to practise beyond school and on into their lives.
Medical Care
Our 24-hour on site Health Centre provides a high-quality medical service for all boys during term time. Registered nursing staff provide 24-hour cover in this clinical setting which is fully equipped to manage day to day medical and nursing appointments, as well as offering comfortable accommodation for those needing extra care.
The School Doctor holds surgeries each morning to facilitate any medical assessments or medications required, and physiotherapy is also available. Mental and physical health often go hand in hand, and all staff in the Health Centre are trained professionals, ready and willing to support any mental health concerns. The range of support is vast and always takes an individual approach. It may be as simple as talking and being supported by the duty nurse, speaking to the School Counsellor or it may require a referral for more specialist help, but in every case, the boy’s needs are our priority.
The ‘Pupil Listening Service’ is a wonderful additional layer of support available to boys at peer level. This is a real cause for celebration and is testimony to the caring and empathetic boys we have here at Sherborne. All Pupil Listeners have undergone specialist training to undertake the role and are prepared to support any pupil who would like to talk to another pupil about their feelings.
Travel and Transport
With a dedicated school-based travel manager, our international families can take comfort knowing that their children can be supported with their travel to and from School, if required.
There are supervised coach services to/from London Heathrow at the beginning and end of each term and half term, and scheduled trains to London Waterloo for Exeats and holidays.
Transport arrangements can be made for those travelling to/from Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Gatwick, Heathrow, London City and
Southampton airports, as well as to central London and other areas on request. These services are usually run by Hounslow’s Sherborne Taxis, with DBS checked drivers.
Sherborne is very well placed and benefits from a mainline train station just 4 minutes’ walk from the centre of School, with trains running to London Waterloo every hour.
Guardians
Boys whose parents do not reside in the UK will require a UK based guardian to act on their behalf whilst they are studying at the School. Not only will they represent your son’s interests, but he may need to stay with his guardian for some Exeats and holidays if he is unable to return home.
Whilst the School cannot make any recommendations, a full list of accredited guardianship organisations is available from the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students aegisuk.net and/or from The BSA Certified Guardian Scheme ukbsa.com
Visas
If your son has a valid UK passport, he will not require a visa to study at Sherborne. If he does not have a UK passport, your son will require a Child Student Visa to study at the School. Even if he lives in the UK, he may still require a visa; please visit www.gov.uk – for further information.
Sherborne Boys is a Child Student Visa Sponsor for the UK Visa and Immigration Service. This means we are licensed to issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for boys who require a Child Student Visa to study at the School. If applying for a visa from outside of the UK, the earliest you can do so is six months before the start of the academic course, subject to being in receipt of a confirmed place. We will work with you to ensure all is in place to enable you to make your application in a timely manner. Our International Registrar is happy to assist with any visa queries you may have.
Fees and Charges
September 2024 – September 2025
Registration Fee
£250 Acceptance
against final term’s fees)
Termly fees Boarding £18,462
Compliance Charge
For boys requiring a Child Student Visa, a compliance charge of £100 per CAS application will be added to the first term’s invoice.
Individual Music Tuition
First instrument
Joanna Jackson International Registrar
£38.50 per 35 minute lesson
Second instrument £26.00 per 35 minute lesson
Hire of instrument £56.15 per term
Learning Support
Individual
Group of Two
£49.00 per 45 minute lesson
£25.00 per 45 minute lesson, each Group of Three £18.50 per 45 minute lesson, each Group of Four £13.00 per 45 minute lesson, each
Extra Support Group £8.00 per 45 minute lesson, each Language lessons 1-1 £45.00 per 45 minute lesson
English as a Second Language
Individual
Group of Two
£60.00 per 45 minute lesson
£35.00 per 45 minute lesson, each Group of three or more
£24.00 per 45 minute lesson, each
Sherborne Schools
Separate Yet Together
That’s the essence of the Sherborne Schools offer; a girls’ school and a boys’ school, both full-boarding and committed to single-sex education, but cooperating to deliver an extensive co-curricular and social programme, thereby giving all of our pupils the very best of both worlds. The result is an educational offer unlike any other, harnessing the positive academic outcomes of single-sex classrooms while delivering the wider benefits of co-education.
When you have something unique, it's worth making the most of it.
